Bracelet



June 28, 1927.

A. EKLUND BRACELET Filed Sept. 22, 1925 Patented June 28, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEFicE.

ALEXANDER EKLUNI), VOF ATTLEIBORO,V MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORr T GENERAL CHAIN COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A,CORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS.

BRACELET.

Application ledseptember 22, 1925. Serial No. 57,909.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of bracelets or chains of the extendible type, and has for its object. to provide a `bracelet of this character having means whereby the links may be readily disconnected'one from the other for the purpose of inserting or removing one or more links to vary the operating length of the bracelet.

A further object of this invention is to construct certain of the links with separable aws or arms releasably snapped together at one end, the same being disconnected or separated by the doubling or folding of two adjacent links of the bracelet connected thereby back upon each other.

A still further object of the invention is to construct aseparable connecting link of two separate jaw or arm members' hinged together at one end and curved at their oposite ends to be snapped one over the other. lVith these `and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully' described, and particularly pointed ont in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my improved bracelet connected to the opposite sides of a watch.

' Figure 2 is a perspective View of the band-- shaped link forming the side walls of the bracelet structure.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the arm members of my connecting link.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the other of the link aw members of the connecting link. A

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the jaw members of the connecting link hinged together at one end and separated at their opposite ends.

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the doubling or folding` back of the adjacent links of the bracelet upon each other, whereby the jaw members of the connecting link are caused to be separated from each other, to permit the disconnection of the links of the bracelet.

Figure 7 is a sectional side elevation of the 'bracelet in contracted position.

F igure V 8 lis a sectional side elevation showing the bracelet in expanded position,

Figure 9 is a sectional end elevation on line 9 9 of Figure 7.

It is found in the practical construction and use of bracelets of this character', of advantage to provide means whereby the dit" ferent links maybe readily disconnected one vfrom the other for the purpose ofadding or removing one or more links to adjust the working length of the bracelet and also to yone means byv which these advantageous re-` sults may be accomplished lVth reference to the drawings, 10 designates a band-shaped link which may be folded up from a strip of sheet stock, to provide channel-shaped side walls 11, with connecting cross bars 12 and 13 at either end,

the cross bar 12 at one end being integral with both of the side walls, vand cross bar 13 being formed of two portions turned'inwardly toward each other. from the opposite side walls, one lof the portions 14 having a lateral projection 15 rolled over the opposite portion 16 to firmly bind the two parts together and hold the whole in' substantially rectangular shape. The upper and lower edges 17 of the side walls 11 are turned or folded inwardly to provide a channel 18, for the purpose hereinafter described.

The connecting band link is formed of i two arms or jaw members 19 and 20,'the member 20 being provided vwith `a bent up end piece 21V which has suitable extension 22 to slidably engage the channel 18 of the aforesaid band link. This end piece is also provided with a slot opening 23,v to receiveV the tongue -24 on the opposite jaw member, to

hingedly secure these two portions together. rihe end opposite the hinged end. of the lower jaw 2O is rolled or turned inwardly as at 25 and has a longitudinally projecting portion 26 substantially parallel with said main jaw member to extend al substantial distance over the engaged cross bar of the opposite band link forming a hook to prevent complete disengagement from the end bar of the band link thereby requiring fur-A ther manual manipulation for separating the parts, and the corresponding free end of the opposite jaw 19 is curved as at 27 to snap over thev inwardly-curved portion 25 of the lower jaw to lirmly lock the two together.

rlhe links previously described are assembled by placing one of the cross barsv of the side wall forming band links between the jaws of the'connecting link and' positioning a spring 28, between the cross bar and the end portion 2l of the connecting link, and the opposite cross bar of the side wall, forming'a link, may then be inserted to be disposed under the lip portion 26 of the connecting link, after which the free ends of the jaws may be snapped together to securely hold the two links in their assembled relation. This operation may berepeated until the desired length of bracelet is produced after which ond hooks 29 may be secured to the bracelet ends by which the samev may be attached to a watch 30, if desired.

In case it is desired to detach the links of the bracelet to remove one of the links or to add a link for extending or adjusting the working length of the bracelet the aws of the connecting links vmay bev readily opened by merely doubling two of the adjacent link units of the bracelet back upon themselves,

as illustrated in Figure (i, whereby a prying action between these links actingy on the connectingl links serves toseparate its arms or jaws, as shown in Figure 6, after which by suitable manual manipulation the hook portion 26 of the jaw link 20 may be disconnected.

It will be readily apparent that the broad top surface and the side walls ofthe links may be suitably ornan'iented to enhance the appearance of the bracelet, it being also. apparent that the portions at the ends of the connecting links where the greatest strain is apt to occur, are strengthened by the rolling in of both ends ofthe jaw members to overlie one another.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have produced a bracelet of a structure Vhaving a -novel detachable connecting means and yet a bracelet which is struction and operation.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I practical in con- -desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechant cal changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim: j

l. An entendible bracelet chain structure comprising a series of band links, connectinglinks therefor having separable jaws resili-Y cntly snapped together at one end, and means responsive to the doubling of said chain upon itself for separating said jaws. l Y

2. An entendible bracelet chain structure comprising a series of band links forming side walls of the structure and connecting band links therefor'separable at their ends and forming top Y* and bottom walls, one'of said connecting band links being separated at 'one of its ends upon said chain structure being doubled back upon itself to permit said connecting band link to be'detached and separated from the next ofsaid series ofv band links. Y i

3. An entendible bracelet chain structure comprising a series of band links disposed `to form Vside walls for said structure, connecting band links therefor disposed to form top and bottom walls and comprising two jaw members hinged together` at one end and resiliently releasably secured together at the otherl end, the jaw members of one of said connecting links being separated upon said vchain structure being doubled back upon itself whereby the links may be detachedv and separated. Y

l. An extendible bracelet structure comprising a series of band links', anda series of connecting links therefor each composed of two separate sheet metal jaws hingedly connected'together, the free ends of each jaw being curved inwardly to snap one over the other by ,its inherent resiliency, and a spring acting between said band' link and connecting link to move them to contracted position.

5. An extendible bracelet structure compiising a series of band links each having side walls, channel shaped in cross section with cross bars at their ends, connecting links embracing the cross. bars of. two adjacent band links and each having two jaw members hingedly connected 'together at one end and releasably snapped together at the oppositek end and projections on oneof the members of said connecting link to extend into said channel side walls to guide the connecting link in its sliding movement.

6.l An eXtendible bracelet structure comprising a series of band links each having side walls with cross bars at their ends, connecting links embracing the cross bars of two adj acentband links and each having two jaw members hingedly connected together at one end and curved inwardly to be snapped together at the opposite end, one Vof said curved ends being bent inwardly sufhciently to form a hook to extend a substantial distance over the cross bar to prevent inadvertent removal of the same. i

7. An eXtendible bracelet chain structure comprising a series of band links, links having separable jaw members connecting said band links to fold one upon the other7 and means whereby the folding actionfof said band links serves to exert an opening action on the jaw members of this connecting link.

ilo S. An extendible bracelet chain structure comprising a series of band links, links having separate jaw members hinged together and disposed to connect said band links so that they may fold one upon the other, and means in said band links so arranged that the folding of said links Will causecthe jaws of their connecting links to open.

j In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

ALEXANDER EKLUND. 

